Reason for Reading: Roger Moore is the Bond I grew up with, the one
I went to the movies to see as a teenager.
Comments: Right from the introduction Mr. Moore states that he will
not be 'dirt-dishing' nor telling 'tittle tattle'; he wants to
write a fun book filled with memories the way he saw them and the
wonderful people he met in his life but he promises that does not
mean it will be a 'fluffy book' either. Roger Moore lives up to
this statement giving the reader a very enjoyable look inside his
life without trashing anyone. He does mention a couple of names
that he simply hates with a straightforward reason why, he tells
stories leaving the irritating one unnamed and he mentions names
and follows the "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say
anything at all rule" frequently. But Roger Moore is a charming
fellow, very easy going, loves a prank or two, and can take a joke
on himself as well so his book is filled with people he adored and
those who adored him back.
Moore spends a good part of the book on his early life in England;
his childhood, days in the army, acting on stage, becoming an actor
in British movies. This was all very interesting and it's hard to
believe that Roger Moore is really that old to have been in WWII!
Even when acting in Britain the famous names start knocking about
such as David Niven (a lifetime friend) and Michael Caine. Then he
comes to America and makes a name for himself on the small screen
starring in Maverick (replacing James Garner as his British
cousin), then his famous Simon Templar as The Saint and finally The
Persuaders with Tony Curtis. Not until we are closing in on page
200 does Roger Moore get to James Bond and the book has been so
interesting up to this point that Bond is not the vital part of the
book. Even if you started to read the because of the Bond
connection. I won't go into any more details but from their Moore
continues on with Bond, his wives, his other movies and work,
ending finally with his long association with UNICEF.
Moore comes across just as I had expected him too. He keeps his
debonair, suave, gentlemanly air about him but he also has his
tongue firmly planted in cheek at the same time. Even as a child he
behaved this way, he calls himself on it frequently saying "ever
the poseur". He tells some wonderful memories and anecdotes as he's
been with all the greats throughout his career: Elizabeth Taylor,
Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Noel Coward, Stewart Granger, Richard
Burton and countless others.
The only thing I didn't enjoy about the book was the last few
chapters which mostly focused pretty heavily on his UNICEF
activities that it began to feel like an infomercial. I will state
I don't support UNICEF for conscience reasons but I did enjoy
hearing of the travel and good work he accomplished. But then it
just seriously devolved into three chapters about UNICEF with Roger
as the emcee. Otherwise, I had a very enjoyable read and certainly
learned a lot more about the man who I previously only knew as The
Saint and James Bond.